of the inquest. Dolores had been sent back to
Claridge's by her father, and placed under the care of Mrs. Darbyshire
the morning after the discovery in the old graveyard. He had very
wisely decided to keep her away from the gruesomeness of the inquest,
which pervaded the whole town.

Under the circumstances that little interview which I was so anxious
that he should have with her to discover the state of her affections
towards me, was postponed, and things remained just as they were.

Nevertheless, I think both Dolores and I were perfectly satisfied to
wait for the formal declaration of her father's sanction, being happy
in the consciousness of each other's love and steadfastness.

So the inquest being disposed of, we very gladly went off to the
station beneath the great cliff to catch the afternoon express to town.

We were in ample time, and strolled up and down the platform, taking a
last look at the town which had proved so fateful to us both.

Presently the great engine, the embodiment of modern steam power, swept
into the station, and the Don's man at once secured a first-class
smoking compartment for us, with the aid of the guard, while Brooks
looked after the luggage, the other man being a foreigner.

"I'm afraid I shall not be able to keep the whole compartment for you,
gentlemen," said the guard civilly, as we took our seats; "but I'll put
as few in as I can."

The old Don was the embodiment of politeness; he was the last person in
the world to inconvenience any one on the railway or anywhere else,
though he liked to have a carriage to himself when he could.

He told the guard so.

"I'll do my best, sir," replied the guard, with great _impressement_,
as he pocketed Don Juan's five shillings. "You shall be inconvenienced
as little as possible."

He locked the door and walked away, and I thought we should be left to
ourselves.

The guard, however, had overestimated his powers.

The train was within a minute of starting when two passengers,
evidently in a great hurry, made their appearance at the window. One
was an old gentleman with a white beard, wearing blue spectacles, and
apparently half blind; the other a young sturdy man, evidently his son,
for the elder leant on his arm, and was addressed by him as "father."

The son led the old man straight to our carriage, and called aloud for
the guard on finding it locked.

"Now, guard!" he cried with authority, when the official made his
appearan